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Assistant Principal Moves to New Role at the High School

The assistant principal at the regional high school is resigning his post, but he’s not going far.

Matthew Malowski will take a job next year as school adjustment guidance counselor in both the alternative program and the therapeutic support program at the high school, Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss told the regional school committee Monday night.

“He’s done a good job as an assistant principal and I hate to lose him but for lots of reasons it will be a really good fit for him,” Mr. Weiss told the Gazette later by telephone.

Mr. Malowski will fill the position left by current counselor Allison Ritts, who resigned two months ago. He will begin the job on Sept. 1.

Mr. Malowski began teaching at the high school 12 years ago. He taught English and English as a second language to students in grades nine through 12. In 2010, after a decision was made to not renew a contract for former assistant principal Neal Weaver, Mr. Malowski was appointed interim assistant principal. “We had asked Matt to step in because he had the right skills. He did it for a year and liked it. We liked it too so after the year he reapplied and stayed on,” Mr. Weiss said.

Mr. Malowski has a bachelor of science degree in secondary education and training from State University of New York at Oneonta and a master of education in mental health and counseling from Bridgewater State College. For the past two years he has also worked as a counselor at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. But he has never been a school counselor. “This is what he’s been training for,” Mr. Weiss said.

On Monday night school committee chairman Colleen McAndrews thanked Mr. Malowski. “You stepped up in a time of need,” she said. Others agreed. “I would like to say I’m happy for you,” committee member Susan Mercier said.

Committee members also thanked assistant superintendent Matthew D’Andrea for serving as interim high school principal following Stephen Nixon’s resignation in April. “Since late last spring, Matt has had to do a job and a half . . . Hopefully that won’t have to continue,” Mr. Weiss said.

Meanwhile, Andrew Berry will continue as one of two assistant principals, and Mr. Weiss said he plans to fill the vacant assistant principal position soon after hiring a new principal. “The job has been posted and we’ll look at the applicants and go from there,” he said.

There are two finalists for the principal position, and as of Wednesday Mr. Weiss said no decision had been made.

In other business during the last meeting of the school year Monday, the committee approved a series of year-end requested budget transfers totaling $361,150.

A five-year lease was approved for a new refrigerated vending machine that will be available to students on campus after regular school hours. School business administrator Amy Tierney said the committee would have the option of terminating the lease after one year if they decided that it was not useful. There was some discussion about where to locate the machine on school grounds — in the cafeteria or near the gymnasium. Committee member Dan Cabot put a stop to the back-and-forth conversation about location, causing the committee to unanimously approve the lease.

“I’ve raised three teenage boys and learned that they’ll walk to wherever the food is,” he said.